Barcelona President Confirms Transfer Kitty Is Just €43m

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has confirmed the club have €43 million left to spend on transfers this summer, after completing the signing of Samuel Umtiti.

The Catalan giants announced they had agreed a €25m deal for the defender last week, with the former Lyon star becoming the club’s first signing of the transfer window.

Umtiti signs having shown impressive form throughout 2015/16, with Lyon having failed to win any of the six league games he missed through injury in November and December.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Bartomeu said:

“We will have €60 million for transfers, plus any possible income from player sales.”

Barcelona supporters can be expecting more names to follow after Bartomeu’s announcement, which effectively revealed the transfer leaves them with a kitty of €43m for the remainder of the window, according to Sport.

The purchase of Umtiti, along with the sale of Marc Bartra for €8 million to Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund, leaves the pot at €43m for the rest of the summer

Any funds raised through sales will also be available for Luis Enrique to use on deals for new players, although the club are widely expected to exercise their €3m buy-back clause on Villarreal’s Denis Suarez.

Barcelona announced Brazilian superstar Neymar had signed a new five-year deal at the Camp Nou on Friday, creating a new £210m release clause in his contract and likely ending interest from other clubs.